If you like carbohydrates, but the “good” kind, you have to try Pastificio Guerra. Located at Via della Croce 8, not far from Piazza di Spagna, it is a true historical institution in Rome. Founded in 1918, it is famous for being one of the places where you can eat the cheapest and most authentic fresh pasta in the city center. No wonder there is always a line!
What to eat and how the pasta factory in the city center works
The format is unique and spartan, no frills, yet it remains a short distance from the capital’s most fashionable streets. Every day, the pasta factory offers two types of first courses (which change daily depending on the availability of ingredients), €5 per plate. The pasta is strictly handmade, produced in its own workshop.
You will often find Roman classics such as Gricia, Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, or variations such as zucchini and guanciale and pasta with tuna.
The pasta is served in single-portion containers with a fork and napkin. Often, if you eat inside, you are also offered a small glass of wine or water. You eat standing up: the space is small and very simple, a mix between a fresh pasta workshop and a delicatessen. There are no real tables with chairs, just shelves along the walls where you can lean to eat quickly.
Photo: @pastificio_guerra1918
It is the ideal place for a quick, high-quality “street food” meal, far from the classic tourist restaurants in the area. Customers constantly praise the quality of the pasta and the generous portions. In addition, every year on December 24, the pasta factory gives away a plate of pasta.
“The first courses they offer every day are delicious. But the best thing is to find an old pasta factory that has not bowed to mass tourism, has remained authentic, and serves takeaway portions for €5. Let’s hope it never changes,” writes Giacomo.
Overall experience: “A really excellent pasta factory, the quality of the pasta is really good and the price is unbeatable: only $5. The atmosphere is not that of a restaurant, in fact you can’t sit down, but it is a real pasta workshop. The staff are friendly. Perfect for those who want to enjoy good pasta at a really affordable price,” comments Veronika.
Address: Via della Croce, 8, Rome
Hours: Open every day from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.